All posts filed under: Outer Wear

A Sewing Room Miracle

Published by

Some things just never go to plan. When they don’t go to plan in the sewing room, but the creative juices are flowing, a sewing room miracle can happen. I printed off the pattern for the Pona jacket not knowing which fabric I’d choose to make it up in. I initially thought dark blue denim. I love denim and it goes with anything and everything in my wardrobe. So when my pattern was taped together I went to have a rummage in my stash. I say rummage because I had a huge pile of fabric on my table as I was up to my ears in organising my stash. You can’t see it but under there somewhere was a piece of curtaining fabric that I acquired from one of my ‘real life’ sewing buddies. She inherited a close family friends stash who had sadly passed away. The curtaining fabric was from the 80’s and looked big enough for the jacket. It turned out it wasn’t, but before I realised this I’d already cut out all …

My First Pattern by Gertie – Butterick 6390

Published by

Back in September I attended my first proper meet up – Sewbrum.  I had an amazing day and met some fabulous ladies.  Sitting down for lunch outside a pub with lots of women I’d never met felt really strange, but it was stranger that in no time at all I felt like I’d know them all ages. One lovely lady I got talking to was Lucy from Sew Essential. and not long after returning home she got in touch and asked if she could sponsor a post on my blog.  Could she!!  I was really excited, and it took ages for me to decide what to make.  I came up with a few ideas – I wanted to make a casual style jacket but in a dressy up style fabric.  I found Gertie’s close fitting button down jacket and thought it would be perfect for me as I’m short waisted and not very tall. Lucy suggested their faux silk dupion.  I was sold!! It came it quite a few colours.  As I wanted my new jacket …

Another Brooklyn Hoodie & A Refashion 

Published by

Remember the white hoodie I made last month?  The only time I don’t wear it is at work, it’s just so cosy and goes with everything.  So I thought I needed to remedy the situation! Obviously with wearing a uniform I can’t just go out and buy fabric and make something to wear for work.  But I did come across 2 old fleeces with broken zips that were quite large and would otherwise be going in the bin! From start to finish it took about 3 hours to make. I didn’t go to town with the top stitching like the white one, mainly because it was for work, but also because my machine struggled with this thick fabric. The double ended zip was from Fabworks – 25p! The pattern was won an the fabric upcycled! So all in all a cheap make! I used twill tape to neaten the seam where the hood is attached. I won’t be using a contrasting one again – it wasn’t as neat as I would have liked. Passable, just! I …

The Brooklyn Hoodie by SBCC

Published by

In January I took park in a Giveaway on Instagram hosted by Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick to win their latest pattern – The Brooklyn Hoodie. I’m a big fan of their patterns so was over the moon when I discovered I’d won.   It did take a few days for me to notice the PM in Instagram as I’d never had one before! Their patterns are drafted for petites. At 5’4″ I always feels I’m somewhere in between – not quite a petite but not tall either. Previously I’m made their Lemoncello Cardigan (unblogged for some crazy unknown reason) so here it is at a Presentation Night when I was Lady Captain (the second time!): I’ve also made the Manhattan Pants and the Cabernet Cardigan.  Oh, and I’ve made a few of their free tonic t shirts too!   All the other patterns I’ve bought (except the free one of course!!).  The paper patterns come printed on proper paper in a plastic A4 folder which is really neat. As soon as I won the hoodie pattern …

Birthday Cape – Oliver and S Woodland Stroll Cape

Published by

I had Birthday Cake – a HUGE one, and now I’ve got a Birthday Cape too.  As those of you who follow my Sunday Sevens will know I received a fabric gift for my recent birthday.  After much head scratching, googling and input from my wonderful imaginary blogging friends I decided to make the Woodland Stroll Cape from Oliver + S. Suggested fabric include wool coating, wool melton, velveteen, moleskin and corduroy.  Not sure of the exact make up of my fabric but there was definitely some wool content.  I opted not to pre wash.  Unusual for me, but my washing machine broke down a week yesterday so didn’t have much choice! Here’s my birthday fabric bundle.  Still not sure what the lips are going to be, maybe a pussy bow blouse.  I’ve been wanting one for ages! Once I’d set my heart on the cape I soon discovered I’d not got enough fabric – according the the fabric guide.  1 1/2 yards is needed, and I had 1 metre. Here’s how the 2 pattern …

Colour Blocked Cabernet Cardigan

Published by

Due to a recent and severe case of cardigan and blazer envy I’ve unintentionally made the Morris Blazer, The Oslo Cardigan and now The Cabernet Cardigan!  Thank goodness for blogging! I first heard of SBCC’s latest pattern when Lladybird made this striped one, and this leopard one. I knew straight away I want to make one and as Betsy was offering free P&P (from America!!) I didn’t hesitate and ordered a hard copy.  Although I don’t mind PDF’s, if time is on my side and it’s not too expensive I do prefer a hard copy.  I think it took around 2 1/2 weeks to arrive, which I didn’t think was too bad. I was in a bit of dilemma before I could order my pattern.  The sizes are split in 2 – skinny bitches and curvy chicks.  I’m sort of somewhere in between.  Maybe a curvy bitch, I’m not sure! And also, I didn’t realise the sizes shown are for the finished measurements.  Doh!  So I ordered the sizes xxs-l, which has a finished bust circumference of …

The Oslo Cardigan from Seamwork & Tips on hemming a slinky knit!

Published by

I was a little late subscribing to the new digital magazine from Colette at the back end of last year so I missed out on the free pattern.. including The Oslo.  At first it wasn’t a problem, but then they were popping up all over, even in the Supermarket!  And I needed one to snuggle and slouch in, with so splashed out! I went down to Dewsbury to Lucky Fashions and spotted this scrumptious knit with an amazing drape for an even more amazing £3 per yard.  I snapped up 3 yards and dashed home! Before the sun set I had my very own Oslo. And boy has it been put through its paces.  It’s gone with everything! (as you’ll have seen on MMM15).  It seemed a bit daft taking pictures of me in the Oslo for this post, what with all the selfies of me on MMM, so I sweet talked my lovely niece into putting it on for a few photos.  That was the easy bit, The hard bit was getting it off her! I …

“Magic Our Morris” The Grainline Morris Blazer

Published by

Now, does that heading stir any memories? Selwyn Froggitt was a popular Sitcom which ran from 1974-77. I was born in 1971 so although I don’t remember everything from it I do remember a well know phrase from the show, which was “Magic ‘r’ Morris!” Morris was Selwin’s brother. If you remember it and fancy a nostalgic chuckle take a peak at this You Tube clip. If you don’t, then moving swiftly on……….. here is my new Grainline Magic Our Morris Blazer! (worn with my BHL Polly Top) I’m so excited to share this with you!  I’ve not taken it off since I finished it this lunch time and have had so many compliments.  I woke up at half 6 this morning and by 7am was well into cutting out.  All in all it’s taken me 5 hours from start to finish (not including getting the pattern ready). So here we are – I’ll get straight into the finished garment photos, then I’ll just mention a few changes I made during construction. I think you …

Sewing Gives Me Butterflies – The Julia Cardigan #patternparcel6

Published by

Back in October I bought the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6.  Included in this was The Julia Cardigan from Mouse House Creations. I’ve been meaning to make this up for ages, and now I have!  It’s good to know things do get to the top of the ‘to-do’ list, eventually! I chose some black slinky jersey which was initially bought to make me and Thimberlina’s mum a pair of matching leggings.  I bought this fabric from Lucky Fabric’s in Dewsbury at the back end of last year. I s’pose I could’ve left it in my stash a bit longer, I mean, 3 months in the spare room, it’s not even got settled in! But alas, despite £5 being an absolute bargain for me and my mum to have a pair of leggings  (I only had 1.8m but neither of us have particularly long legs) the leggings never materialised. But then I remembered the Julie Cardigan (my ‘to-do’ list is not written it’s in my head, note to self to maybe write a blog post about it). …